Gone are the days when luxury simply meant marble floors and gold taps - today it’s measured in moments that feel utterly, unmistakably yours.In this special feature on Travel Market Life, I gather a powerhouse panel of experts to unpack the evolution of high-end travel and hospitality. From Becky Lukovic's custom cultural immersions at Bella Travel to Christopher Hill's impact-driven safaris, Catt McLeod's authentic Elegant Hotels ethos, Douglas Waddell's tech-savvy strategies, and Priscilla Haryadi's global hotel portfolio at Preferred Hotels & Resorts, they reveal how personalisation, sustainability, and seamless tech are reshaping traveller dreams.What You’ll Learn- Personalised Escapes: Why today's luxury prioritises listening to individual passions - be it gourmet bike tours or volunteer wildlife tracking - over cookie-cutter extravagance.- Sustainable Sophistication: The rise of eco-luxury, from rhino conservation safaris to hotels embedding community impact, proving indulgence and ethics can coexist.- Tech as Silent Partner: How AI and clever digital tools enhance 24/7 service without overwhelming staff, freeing humans for those irreplaceable, memorable touches.This roundtable is a blueprint for what luxury craves next: experiences that feel like secrets shared, blending heart, innovation, and the world's wild beauty.Travel Market Life is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.
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Independent Hotel Show 2025: Weak Links in Technology
The problem isn’t the tech. It’s the gaps where it doesn’t talk to each other.In this live episode recorded at the Independent Hotel Show 2025, we dive deep into the critical weak points in hotel technology. Bringing together hospitality leaders Alessandra Leone, Douglas Waddell, and Tanya Stellard we ask what happens when the tech stack doesn’t quite stack up.From legacy systems and fragile infrastructure to fragmented tools that don’t talk to each other, we unpack the operational realities hotels face today. This isn’t just about tech for tech’s sake - it’s about aligning technology with strategy, empowering teams, and delivering experiences guests actually want.What You’ll Learn- Infrastructure First: Why building a strong foundation is the key to making every system work better.- People at the Core: How involving teams early in the tech journey leads to better adoption and smoother operations.- Smart Investment: Why strategy (not shiny tools), should drive every tech decision.This conversation is a reminder that the best hotel technology isn’t about having the most - it’s about making it work seamlessly, together, for guests and teams alike.Travel Market Life is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.
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Travel Market Life Monthly: Building A Travel Business
Two students, one snowy mountain and a worldwide business.In this episode of Travel Market Life, Craig Everett, CEO and Co-Founder of HollyBob, joins us to explore the power of innovation, entrepreneurship, and AI in the travel industry.Craig shares how a simple university ski trip turned into his first business, how HollyBob was born, and why travel experiences are the next frontier for digital transformation. From AI-powered itineraries to under-tourism strategies, this conversation dives into how technology and human connection can work together to shape the future of travel.What You'll LearnFrom Idea to Impact: How a grassroots travel idea grew into HollyBob, a platform transforming how travellers book experiences.Tech Meets Tourism: Why AI and agentic commerce are reshaping the way people plan, book, and enjoy their holidays.Entrepreneurial Mindset: Craig's honest lessons on focus, failure, and building a business that lasts in a changing landscape.Craig's story is a brilliant reminder that the travel industry thrives on curiosity, connection and courage. Technology might change how we explore the world - but people will always shape the journey.Travel Market Life is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.
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Hotel Partner: Making Money with WhatsApp
In this episode of Travel Market Life, I sit down with Joji Esho, Hotel Manager at the historic 218-room Queen of Chester, located steps from the train station, and Prem Jethwa-Odedra, CEO of Biteluxe, a leader in hospitality tech solutions.We dive into how WhatsApp integrations are transforming hotel operations by driving revenue, enhancing guest engagement, and streamlining processes, all while balancing the needs of leisure and corporate guests with personalized technology.What You’ll Learn- Guest Engagement: Discover how WhatsApp enables pre-arrival surveys to tailor guest experiences and unlock upsell opportunities, creating memorable stays.- Revenue Growth: Learn how proactive messaging anticipates guest needs, offering personalised add-ons that convert interactions into impactful sales.- Operational Efficiency: Explore how automated WhatsApp communications reduce reliance on traditional phone calls, saving time while preserving a personal touch.Together, Joji and Prem share why embracing platforms like WhatsApp is a game-changer for hotels, fostering authentic connections and driving financial success in a competitive market.Travel Market Life is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.
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Hoteliers' Voice: Mental Health in Hospitality
In this special episode of Hotelier's Voice, we unpack mental health challenges in hospitality with Mike Messeroff, a 30-year industry veteran turned personal freedom coach and founder of Self-Hospitality Collective, and his client Otto Abad.We explore burnout, work-life balance, and the shift from grinding to thriving.What You’ll Learn- Self-Care Strategies: Recognise burnout early and set boundaries to rediscover joy in your role.- Humanising Work: Prioritise authentic connections over technology to reduce stress.- Seeking Support: Tap into coaching or collectives for tools to manage professional pressures.Mike and Otto's stories empower us to humanise hospitality, inspiring a balanced life where self-care fuels exceptional service.The Self-Hospitality Collective is a free, private community where hospitality leaders can finally exhale, reconnect, and learn to lead without losing themselves.This isn’t a professional network. It’s a lifeline—for hospitality executives, entrepreneurs, and managers who are tired of running on fumes and ready to serve from overflow, not depletion.Independent. United. Together, building a movement that is transforming the hospitality industry—and the world—by reminding every leader that your life matters as much as the ones you serve.Travel Market Life is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.
Travel Market Life is a podcast focused on the travel, tourism, hotel and hospitality industry to address industry issues, digitalisation, technologies and systems, consumer trends, marketing and communications.
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